The law generally requires that applicants for naturalization must have resided continuously in the United States during a period of 5 years before applying (3 years in the case of qualified spouses of U.S. citizens). Applicants are also generally required to have been physically present in the United States for at least half of that required period of time. For more information about the continuous residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization, follow the related links to the right.

Section 316 paragraphs (b), (c), and (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allow certain exceptions to the continuous residence requirement in the case of applicants who will be working abroad as employees of the United States government or its contractors, or of a recognized American institution of research, public international organization, or organization designated under the International Immunities Act. For details, see the links to the right. For lists of those organizations formally recognized by USCIS, follow the ‘List’ links to the right. For details regarding eligibility see the “Immigration & Nationality Act Residence and Physical Presence Requirements” links and “Continuous Residence Regulations” link to the right. For lists of those organizations formally recognized by USCIS, see the ‘List’ link to the right.

If you seek to preserve your continuous residence for naturalization purposes while employed abroad by one of these recognized institutions you must also file an Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes (Form N-470) with USCIS, except that qualified U.S. Government employees are exempt from the N-470 filing requirement. See the related information links to the right.

An organization may obtain USCIS recognition as an American institution of research for the purpose of preserving the continuous residence status of its employees who are, or will be, naturalization applicants assigned abroad for an extended period of time. The requesting organization should follow the instructions contained in the link ‘Requesting Recognition as an American Institution of Research’ to the right.